Emtricitabine / rilpivirine / tenofovir disoproxil and Nightmares: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2012

For HIV Infection "I had an extremely high viral load and was forced to initially take a different medication to get this number under control (if over 100,000, you are not supposed to take Complera). This initial once-a-day medication made my life hell, for the side effects were a nightmare, but it did its job. Once I was under 100,000, I switched over to Complera and have had NO SIDE EFFECTS! And most importantly, my viral load has remained undetectable, while my CD4 count has increased and my immune system has definitely gotten stronger. Obviously, since this medicine was just approved by the FDA, the long-term side effects are still unknown, but compared to the hell I was going through and how wonderful things have gotten, I am willing to take my chances."

• Jai...
• March 11, 2013

For HIV Infection "I was put on Complera when my viral load hit 0. I have been on it for 5 months. I get my labs done next week. I previously had been on 8 pills a day, which caused awful nightmares. I was diagnosed HIV positive when I was 8 months pregnant, which was devastating, but miraculously, within that short time until I delivered my baby, my viral load went from 264 to 62. My daughter is HIV-free. I guess the only downfall to Complera is taking it with 400 calories. Time will tell. I also experience pain at times and insomnia."

• Kri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 12, 2016

For HIV Infection "My experience was almost the worst-case scenario. Meaning I'm lucky I didn't die. I'll share my story. I was diagnosed at 21 back in like 2001. I was on Sustiva and Convivir successfully and undetectable until 2012. The meds had worked great for a long time, and I managed all the side effects like the nightmares and such. Then a new side effect came into play with the old meds. My mind started telling me and giving ideas on how to kill myself. I knew this was serious, and so I asked my doctor to change my meds. During the transition, I didn't know what to focus on. The way they presented the drugs to me, it felt like they were pushing the one-a-day pill, Complera. So I switched to Complera in August 2012. Then I developed kidney disease stage 3."